On Monday, the administration of New York City Mayor Eric Adams faced another shakeup as four of his senior aides announced their resignations. This latest development adds to a growing list of controversies that have surrounded his leadership, leaving a considerable void in the city’s governance.
The resignations come shortly after a notable decision made by the Justice Department on February 10, which instructed federal prosecutors to drop corruption allegations against Adams. Officials argued that the ongoing legal proceedings were obstructing the Democratic mayor’s ability to advance President Biden’s policies, especially in relation to immigration enforcement.
The allegations against Adams date back to September and are linked to his actions while serving as Brooklyn borough president in 2014.
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Among those who have stepped down are First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and Deputy Mayors Meera Joshi, Anne Williams-Isom, and Chauncey Parker. Their exits come at a time when pressure is mounting on Governor Kathy Hochul to either call for Adams’ resignation or remove him from office.
This wave of resignations follows the departure of U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon and five other senior Justice Department officials last week, who stepped down after Sassoon refused to dismiss the charges against Adams.
In a statement to NBC New York, the mayor’s office confirmed the resignations, commending the departing aides as “remarkable public servants” who have significantly contributed to the evolution of New York City.
The statement highlighted their collective achievements, noting, “Together, we’ve reached unprecedented housing goals, generated the highest job numbers in the city’s history, aided countless New Yorkers and immigrants, created innovative public spaces, and improved safety throughout the city. New Yorkers owe them a deep debt of gratitude for their service.”
Sources suggest that during a recent Zoom call, Adams attempted to convince the aides to reconsider their resignations, but they ultimately decided to move forward with their choice.
Joshi, who held the position of Deputy Mayor of Operations, reportedly shared a collective message from the departing aides in an email sent to agency heads.
“Given the extraordinary events of the past weeks and our commitment to uphold the oaths we took to serve New Yorkers and our families, we have made the difficult decision to resign from our roles,” the statement expressed.
TIME has reached out to the Mayor’s office for additional remarks.
